How to Care for Sensitive Teeth?
People face tooth sensitivity, and this is very painful and uncomfortable. Whereas tooth sensitivity can be a result of a specific event, e.g., taking hot beverages leaving your teeth sensitive, or due to the winter season, which brings cold air that you cannot avoid breathing, it is experienced in almost all people at some point in life. It is therefore important to understand what causes sensitivity and what will help to relieve the problem in the short term, as well as the permanent solutions needed to prevent recurrence. Here in this blog, you will learn what causes sensitive teeth, symptoms of the condition, as well as actionable steps for managing or eliminating the problem.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity is a dental condition that results from exposure to the inner layer of the tooth: the dentin.
The main cause of tooth sensitivity is the wearing of the outer enamel and cementum layers and/or down to the inner sensitive dentin and pulp fibers or nerves. Here are the most common causes:
1. Enamel Erosion:
Enamel is the outermost layer of your teeth and the body’s first barrier against sensitivity, and once it is damaged, it cannot be naturally repaired. Over time, enamel can erode due to:
- Aggressive brushing: Brushing your teeth with a hard bristle or applying excessive pressure can erode the teeth’s enamel.
- Acidic foods and drinks: These are the common foods that can soften dental enamel: citrus fruits, soda, and vinegar-based products.
- Grinding teeth: If you are a bruxer, which means if you have a habit of grinding your teeth now and then, then you stand to lose your enamel.
2. Gum Recession:
When gums begin to shrink, they pull back from the teeth; in the process, one sees the roots of the teeth and these are not protected by an enamel layer. This in turn results in the heightening of sensations among them being touch and sensitivity to temperature.
3. Tooth Decay or Damage:
These might include decay affecting one or many teeth, a cracked tooth, or a chipped filling that exposes the sensitive structure of the tooth: the dentin and the nerve ending.
4. Post-Dental Procedures
Some people might feel tenderness for a few hours or days after the treatment such as teeth whitening, fillings, or crown installation.
5. Gum Disease (Periodontists):
Periapical infections and inflammations result in some harm to the gums and this in turn leads to exposure of the roots of the teeth as well as sensitization.
Methods of Managing and Treating Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can only be dealt with if one treats the signs as well as the cause. Here are some effective remedies and preventative strategies:
-Use a soft brush to brush your teeth:
Specifically, if you have a hard or medium-bristle type of toothbrush, then it is high time for you to start using a soft-bristle one. The harmful practice of brushing the teeth softly with a special soft bristle avoids more carving of the enamel. Do not scrub your teeth in horizontal strokes but instead use circular motions only.
-Use desensitizing toothpaste:
Fluoride-containing toothpaste, or simply desensitizing toothpaste, has elements that do nothing but block the signal from the inside of the tooth to the nerve. If this type of toothpaste is used routinely, then effects, such as a decrease in sensitivity, will eventually be seen.
-Avoid acidic foods and drinks:
Reducing the consumption of acidic meals and all kinds of early and often oral hygiene practices was associated with enhanced saliva production and strong teeth. Drinking is good practice for the preservation of your dental enamel. If you must take them all, let your mouth be rinsed with water afterward, and you should not brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes, though I recommend you avoid them all.
-Consider fluoride treatments:
Dental fluoride fortifies your teeth’ outer surface and reduces the likelihood of cavities. Toothpaste containing fluoride works, and your dentist might prescribe topical fluoride treatments for sensitive teeth.
-Keeping up with your oral care:
Good oral hygiene at convenience includes brushing teeth at least twice a day and flossing teeth to avoid the formation of cavities, gum diseases, as well as plaque. Such visits are also important in the identification of early signs of sensitivity, which require intervention to prevent further deterioration.
When to see a dentist?
While many cases of tooth sensitivity can be managed with at-home care, it’s important to visit a dentist if:
- Its frequency is variable and, in some patients, becomes chronic or worsens over the years.
- You feel pain or discomfort when touching a single spot or one of your teeth.
- Itching is present in the mouth, and there are symptoms of gum disease like bleeding or puffed-up gums.
- You have what you consider to be visible holes or openings in your teeth.
A dentist will be able to determine what is causing you the sensitivity and may prescribe for your bonding, the use of fluoride varnishes, or other restorative procedures to be done on your teeth.
Professional Treatments for Tooth Sensitivity
If your sensitivity persists despite home care, your dentist may recommend more advanced treatments.
1. Dental Bonding
Given spaces where enamel is slightly worn away, your dentist can use a tooth-colored resin to the roots. This treatment in effect helps in preserving the dentin and preventing sensitivity.
2. Gum Grafts
If gum recession is the issue that causes that sensitivity of yours, a gum graft might be recommended by your dentist. It requires using tissue from another area of your mouth and placing it on the site of your gum that has pulled back, exposing the roots.
3. Root Canal Therapy
If tooth sensitivity is due to severe cavities or damage affecting the tooth’s pulp, then a root canal may be required. This procedure aims at excision of the infected or inflamed nerve, which results in sensitivity and pain.
Sensitive teeth are quite a normal problem; however, with proper care, one can avoid or at least reduce the pain associated with it. If you can brush your teeth, use products that reduce sensitivity, and manage issues such as diet and stress, you can save your enamel and live without worrying about sharp teeth sensitivity. Of course, such a plan depends on how often you go to the dentist and how careful you are in your dental hygiene, the earlier problems are discovered, the easier they are addressed.